Gross regional product to grow by 50 percent in Sakhalin at the end of the year

The gross regional product is expected to grow by 50 percent this year in Sakhalin (the island and the region of the same name in the Russian Far East). This information was provided by acting governor of the Sakhalin region Ivan Malakhov at a session being held by president Vladimir Putin. Taking part in the session are all heads of the Sakhalin region's municipal formations.

The industrial production plan has been overfulfiled by 2.4 percent during the first seven months of this year, Malakhov reported.

The volume of investments to the fixed assets amounts to 200 percent of the last year's level, and investments in the Sakhalin projects and other sectors increased by 198 percent compared to 2002 level, Malakhov pointed out.

Speaking about the demographic situation in the region, the acting governor stated that the number of the born increased by 12 percent and that of dead - by 8 percent.

The cash incomes of the population Malakhov continued, grew, compared to last year by 40 percent over the first seven months of the year, consumer expenditures by 34 percent, the real incomes by 19 percent. The average nominal wage in the Sakhalin region amounts to 8,766 roubles - 138 percent growth, Malakhov reported. At the same time the average wage in industry makes up 9,084 roubles and in the sphere of culture and arts - 4,300 roubles.